Title- Burn Out
By- Ruthi Kight
Genre- New Adult
Publication Date- August 10th, 2013
Guest Post with Ruthi Kight
How to make your characters believable
So you want to make your characters believable? Okay, let’s talk about it.
First, when you are “designing” your character, can you see them in your mind? Do you know what they look like, from the freckles on their noses to the point of their chins? If not, that’s where we need to start. Characters need to be as real to you as say, your spouse or your best friend. They should be living, breathing entities in your mind. Every minute detail, from their appearance to their personality, should be chosen and mapped. There is no such thing as an unneeded detail. Even if you never mention certain attributes in your story, YOU, the author, should still know it about your characters.
Second, be careful when basing your characters on those you know in real life. We all do it, at least once or twice in our lives, but be careful! What happens if you kill off a character that was based on your best friend? He/she might get a little offended at that. Taking certain personality traits from them and incorporating them into your characters is okay. Just don’t tell the people you snitched them from. Just easier that way.
Third, have conversations with your characters. Yes, I know, this sounds pretty schizophrenic, but trust me! What better way to really get to know them than to sit down and ask them about their day? This allows you to get in tune with the way their minds work, as well as learning to channel them with your own words. To be on the safe side, try this when you’re alone. Wouldn’t want ya’ll getting locked away, now would we?
And lastly, don’t be afraid to make them flawed. There are no perfect people in this world, so why would there be in your story? How boring would life be if everyone around us always said the right thing, wore the right clothes, or never did anything wrong? It would be completely boring, right? Spice them up. Make them snore! Really, just have fun with them. Do you love tattooed bad boys but could never date one in real life? Well, here’s your chance to further romanticize those sexy guys and fall in author-love with them! It’s about whatever you want to do. Just remember, keep them real. Perfect doesn’t exist in the real world, so how can it exist in the book world?
That’s all from me! Now please, keep in mind, these are just MY personal opinions on making characters believable. My word is not gospel, it is simply what has worked for me in the past. I hope they are helpful for you!
Blurb
Pyromaniac. Murderer. Burn out.
Ten years ago Delia’s life went up in smoke. Literally.
After a decade of hiding, she is forced back into the world.
With only her wits to guide her, she must now figure out how to live in a town that knows her only as a murderer.
Her family is gone. The people all fear her. She has nothing holding her in Sunny Shores...until she meets Liam.
He’s heard the stories. He knows he should stay away from her, but he’s drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
Life seems to be looking up for them...until her past comes back like a bitch slap to the face.
Excerpt
With my thoughts running amok, my cheeks began to feel warm, betraying me. The heat spread from one side to the other quickly, giving my face a nice rosy glow. He chuckled and I almost came apart. Did this man have any idea what that one small sound did to a girl? I bet he did, he had to, given his current shit-eating grin. There was no way that he couldn’t know. Guys like him knew they were walking fuck-me advertisements.
“Careful. It’s a little too soon to fall for me.” He smiled, dimples and all, and I nearly lost it again. Dimples! I was in serious trouble already and I hadn’t been out of the loony bin for an hour yet.
“Not likely,” I replied. I righted myself and leaned back casually. “Are you planning on being here long?”
He quickly scanned my face, and then returned his focus to the book in his hands. “Not sure. Ask me again in an hour.”
Argh! Infuriating and sexy as hell? Great combo. My head told me to walk away, but my traitorous body was trying to convince me to inch closer to him. With a quick scoot, I was mere inches from him, our legs nearly touching.
“Whatcha reading?” I tried to get a look at the book, but he closed it before I could figure out what it was.
“Homer.”
“Simpson?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “As in The Odyssey. Greek epic poem…ring any bells?”
“No. The only Homer I know is married to a woman with a giant blue beehive.”
With a shake of his head, he opened his book once again. “Sheltered?”
His attitude was really starting to piss me off. “No. Unless you consider ten years in the wacky shack as sheltered.” I had expected my words to have some sort of impact. Nothing. He didn’t even flinch.
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About the Author:
Ruthi Kight currently lives in her hometown of Columbia, SC, with her fiancé and five year old daughter. She has an unhealthy addiction to books, music, and chocolate, but not necessarily in that order. When her dream of being a rock star didn't work out, she focused on her other passion: writing. She is the author of Knotted Roots, a YA Coming of Age story, and is currently working on two other novels that are due out this year.
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